Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker names new managing director for Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker has named a key member of her incoming administration.

Parker announced Tuesday morning that current Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel will be starting as the city's new managing director next week.

The role oversees the city's operating departments, including community services, public safety, and transportation.

Parker said he is is more than qualified for the job.

"In addition to his public service, Adam has deep expertise in crisis leadership, risk management, organizational development, data science and strategy," she said.

"Our city feels like it's in crisis sometimes, right? So that's what I do, that's what we do," Thiel said. "I have great teams in the fire department, great teams in emergency management. We're putting together a great team for government operations overall."

The position is currently held by Tumar Alexander.

As managing director, he'll work hand-in-hand with Parker to implement her pledge to the city of making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation. He will be hiring people at the top of city departments tasked with making that happen.

"I think it's probably not hyperbolic to say that our city feels like it's in crisis sometimes," Thiel said, adding that, "you can feel and see the dedication to making our streets safer, cleaner, greener."

Parker praised Thiel for the many leadership roles he has held during his career.

"He's been a chief fire officer, an emergency manager, an incident commander, a fire and emergency services instructor, a hazardous materials team leader," Parker said. "I believe that Adam Thel is the right choice for managing director."

Parker says her team is now working on finding a new fire commissioner.

Thiel became the city's 20th fire commissioner in May 2016 and also served as the director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management from 2019 - 2022.

"Thiel earned a master's degree in cities from the London School of Economics, a master's in public administration from George Mason University, and has completed doctoral coursework in both public administration and public policy. He is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow, an Eisenhower USA Fellow, and a Leadership Philadelphia Fellow," according to a biography on the city's website.

And his resume extends beyond that.

"In addition to his public service, Adam has deep expertise in crisis leadership, risk management, organizational development, data science, and strategy," said Parker.

He also teaches grad classes at multiple universities.

Thiel has been in emergency management for over 30 years in five states. He's helped respond to major crises such as 9/11 and the Fairmount apartment fire tragedy in 2022.

He says his expertise is exactly what Philadelphia needs.

He also says he wants to address persistent crime, illegal trash dumping, and poverty.

"We want to get to a place where we are being strategic and we can achieve that vision, which I know we can," he said.

Meanwhile, Parker will become Philadelphia's new mayor on January 1, though her inauguration won't be held until the next day.